Killing Intent Arose

Qi Yu stared at the newcomer.

The figure gradually became clear in the faint red glow of the fire.

Her face was icy, revealing neither sorrow nor joy. Her eyes were dull and lifeless, like two inferior glass beads embedded in her sockets. With the slightest turn, they revealed a gloomy ugliness.

Her entire person seemed like a puppet witch draped in a long wig, stiff and unsettling.

The data above her head was equally strange: "71(101)."

This was power derived from the Umbrella Sect's Cipher Text system. As for why a "hidden statistic" still existed, it was probably because of the vacancy left by her missing partner.

Once her partner was filled in, her combat power would immediately soar to 101.

This should still fall within the Eighth Rank category.

For an Eighth Rank martial artist without a weapon, the normal limit was 60. If they wielded a weapon, that number would increase... but it still should not reach 101.

From this angle, the sect was indeed powerful. Under equal conditions, martial artists who joined the sect were stronger than those who did not.

Qi Yu watched the approaching "Black Umbrella."

It was not that he was prejudiced against her appearance. It was just that Master Chen's conduct was truly abnormal.

His father had certainly made arrangements in advance and presented a generous gift. Normally, even if Master Chen could not let him choose freely, he should at least have informed him of the predetermined candidate beforehand as a gesture of consideration.

But he had not.

Judging from this posture, Master Chen intended to designate someone directly, without allowing any argument.

And this designated "partner"—whether in combat power, appearance, or that suffocatingly cold aura she exuded at first sight—was someone Qi Yu found impossible to accept.

Just as his thoughts raced, Master Chen had already sauntered over. A formulaic smile, as though bestowing a favor, spread across his face. Lowering his voice, he chuckled, "Yu'er, this Shadow Envoy is someone your uncle carefully selected for you. She'll be greatly beneficial to both you and the Qi Family. Just go with her. She'll teach you the rules later."

As he spoke, Master Chen did not wait for Qi Yu's response at all, as though the matter had already been nailed down beyond dispute.

Qi Yu's opinion was not important.

Once Master Chen had designated it, it was settled.

Master Chen looked toward Xiang Nanfeng, who was slowly approaching, and said, "Shadow Envoy Xiang, I'm entrusting this child to you."

Xiang Nanfeng's icy gaze swept over Qi Yu. She was just about to speak when Qi Yu seized the initiative, a trace of respectful laughter appearing on his face. "Uncle Chen, this matter is of great importance. Please allow your nephew a little more time to consider it."

Master Chen did not even slow his steps, as though he had merely heard a piece of irrelevant nonsense. He waved his hand casually and smiled amiably. "There's no need to consider it. It's already decided."

Xiang Nanfeng urged him as well, "Let's go."

Qi Yu understood.

He did not know what sordid details lay beneath the surface.

But he understood that this was another "obedience test."

The first had been wearing red.

The second was having a partner assigned to him.

Master Chen was taming the Qi Family.

Just then, Qi Zhao, who had been seated below, suddenly rose and said, "Master Chen, please give my younger cousin a little time to deliberate."

Master Chen finally stopped. He slowly turned his head, his gaze landing on Qi Zhao as his brows drew tightly together.

He slowed his speech, every word noticeably heavy, as though proclaiming a decree. "Miss Qi, you haven't been formally promoted yet, have you? At present, I'm Yu'er's sponsor. Shadow Envoy Xiang is a female Shadow Envoy of Umbrella's Shadow. Whether by reason or by sentiment, surely she and I both have the authority to designate a sect member as a partner, don't we?"

He bit down heavily on the words "authority."

Qi Zhao lowered her head slightly, then smiled again. "Master Chen, please don't be angry. That's not what I meant..."

As she spoke, she gestured to the side with her eyes, hoping to speak with him privately.

Master Chen followed her expressionlessly to one side. After a brief exchange, he returned with an amiable smile once more.

He murmured a few words to Xiang Nanfeng, then turned to Qi Yu and smiled. "Yu'er, your uncle is only thinking of your welfare. A Shadow Envoy suited to you is exceedingly rare... However, since you insist on considering it, your uncle isn't an unreasonable man. I'll give you ten days, then. Ten days should be enough for you to think it through, right?"

Qi Yu smiled bitterly. "Uncle Chen, could you give me a few more days?"

Master Chen's brows knitted, revealing his displeasure.

Qi Yu hurriedly waved his hands and submitted. "All right, all right, ten days it is. Thank you, Uncle Chen."

Since the sponsor had made the designation, the one or two Black Umbrellas who had originally wanted to compete for the position did not speak up.

As the ceremony ended, the people in the cavern began to disperse.

"Brother Qi."

Han Yan came from a distance, waving his hand.

Qi Yu turned his head. "Brother Han."

Han Yan said excitedly, "Brother Qi, I really admire you. You defeated Zhen Tianshuang without undergoing the Cipher Text Baptism... He had top-grade aptitude."

Qi Yu smiled indifferently and waved his hand. "It was only luck."

Then he saw his older female cousin signaling to him from the other side and said, "I still have something to do. I'll leave first."

Han Yan watched his departing back, gratitude flickering in his eyes.

The reason he had surrendered immediately when facing Zhen Tianshuang back then was actually that he had felt inferior inside, believing that his low-grade aptitude was simply inferior to top-grade aptitude.

But then... Qi Yu, who had never undergone the Cipher Text Baptism, had crippled Zhen Tianshuang through martial arts. This left his blood surging and restored his confidence.

Suddenly, as though he had thought of something, he slapped his forehead and shouted, "Brother Qi..."

However, Qi Yu had already gone far away.

Qi Yu invited Qi Zhao into his carriage.

Ding Yi drove the carriage.

His older female cousin's carriage followed behind.

The wheels rolled over the muddy road with a rumbling sound.

Before Qi Yu could speak, Qi Zhao said angrily, "Chen Bingyi really is a piece of work. Either he's taking benefits from both sides, or he wants to join forces with a Black Umbrella and completely control our Qi Family."

Chen Bingyi was Master Chen's name.

Qi Yu's gaze narrowed slightly. "He gave me ten days. Cousin, the price you promised him must have been quite steep, right?"

"It was manageable..." Frost covered Qi Zhao's pretty face. She then took a pitch-black booklet from her bosom and gently stroked its cover with her five fingers. "I've studied these teachings day and night, without daring to slack off in the slightest, all for the sake of proving my devotion. As long as I endure for three years, I can formally become an Internal Affairs Envoy... By then, I won't have to be controlled by Chen Bingyi anymore."

Qi Yu fell silent.

He more or less understood.

The First and Third Branches had probably borrowed the Umbrella Sect's power when they seized the Herb Gathering Pavilion from the Second Branch and escaped the tiger's jaws unscathed.

Now, that support had become a new problem.

Wolves before them and tigers behind—each harboring the intent to devour them.

His expression shifted slightly.

Qi Zhao was exceptionally perceptive and said directly, "Today I brought many gifts. I originally wanted to cast a stone to sound the water, using the opportunity to establish connections with other External Affairs Envoys and Internal Affairs Envoys. After all, if we rely solely on Chen Bingyi, we'll ultimately remain at someone else's mercy... Unfortunately, it was useless.

"Infighting is strictly forbidden within the Umbrella Sect. My Qi Family is under Chen Bingyi's leadership, so the others won't interfere..."

As she spoke, she smiled again. "Honestly, this is clearly something I should be worrying about, so why am I complaining to you here... It's fine, Cousin. It's only an ordinary problem. Focus on practicing martial arts and don't concern yourself with these things.

"As for Xiang Nanfeng, I asked around. She was originally Zhen Tianshuang's partner. Her previous partner died, and after much difficulty, she invested sacrificial offerings in Zhen Tianshuang, only for you to cripple him as well... Now she's set her sights on you.

"Cousin, use these ten days to adjust your mindset. Partners... aren't spouses."

Qi Yu nodded, then suddenly said, "When I came earlier, I saw six people carrying something..."

"That was a Demon Corpse," Qi Zhao said. "Those people were subordinates of the Internal Affairs Envoys who specialize in sacrifices. Their sole duty is to transport dead Demon Corpses somewhere. Those six were merely the lowest-level Corpse-Carrying Cultists."

Qi Yu said, "I'm rather interested, Cousin. Could you take me to have a look?"

"Only Internal Affairs Envoys in charge of sacrifices are qualified to inspect them. If you're interested, Cousin, I'll ask about it later."

Qi Yu looked out at the passing street scenery and suddenly changed the subject. "By the way, is the three-year period before your formal promotion mandatory? Can it be shortened?"

"It can, but you need to offer sufficiently abundant sacrificial offerings... Even if we wanted to obtain offerings of that level, the price required would be more than we can bear right now."

Qi Yu nodded...

His gaze drifted.

The current Qi Family seemed to be maintaining its balance, but in truth, it was surrounded by dangers. His Second Uncle was certainly no good man, but weren't his father and First Uncle also drinking poison to quench their thirst?

Cousin, could she really endure these three years and rise to power?

He suddenly lowered his voice and leaned a little closer. "Cousin, if Chen Bingyi... were no longer around, what effect would that have on our Qi Family?"

Qi Zhao abruptly raised her head. A trace of alarm flashed through her eyes as she lowered her voice. "Don't do anything foolish."

Qi Yu smiled. "How could I? These are the only two tricks I have. I wouldn't dare. I was only asking."

Qi Zhao stared at him for a moment before saying, "Then our Qi Family would have to choose another steward to depend on. After all, inviting a Black Umbrella requires arrangements through a steward... unless we have a private friendship with a Black Umbrella. But don't even mention private friendships—we usually find it difficult enough to see a Black Umbrella even once. Besides, most Black Umbrellas have eccentric personalities and are extremely difficult to get along with."

Qi Yu nodded and resigned himself. "I understand. In ten days, I'll choose Xiang Nanfeng."

His gaze turned deep and gloomy...

He glanced at the 32 Skill Points on the panel.

It was... time for him to choose a weapon.

"Cousin, I'll drop you off at the fork in the road later. I'm going to the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall to see my fiancée and wash my eyes."

Qi Zhao teased him, "That's more like it. Look at Miss Song a little more to make up for it."